From what age is it OK to eat honey? Here are some tips for eating it for the first time

Honey has a rich, sweet taste and is also rich in nutrients, making it one of the foods you can feed your children.

However, some people may become concerned after hearing that it should not be given to children.

In this article, we will help to allay such concerns by explaining the age at which children can eat honey, as well as some points to keep in mind when giving it to children for the first time. If you want to safely taste honey with your young children, be sure to read this article.

At what age can you eat honey?

The safe age to eat honey is one year and above, and it should not be given to infants under one year of age.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has also issued a warning about this.

It is natural to think, "It's sweet, delicious, and nutritious, so I want to feed it to my child." However, it is forbidden to give it to infants under the age of one.

Not only should you not give honey as is, but you should also avoid foods and drinks that have been heated with honey, such as bread, castella, and cakes that contain honey. When choosing foods, carefully check the packaging to see if it says "Do not give to infants under 1 year old" and whether it contains honey as an ingredient.

If you are worried because your child was born prematurely, even though he or she is over one year old, we recommend that you consult a doctor rather than making your own judgment as to whether or not it is okay to give honey to your child.

参照元:厚生労働省https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000161461.html

Why honey should not be given to children under 1 year old

So why shouldn't honey be given to children under the age of one? The reason is the presence of "Clostridium botulinum." Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that is widely found in oceans, rivers, and soil and is resistant to heat and dryness.

It is generally believed that honey is highly likely to be contaminated with botulinum bacteria. Even in foods that have been heat-treated, such as bread and sweets containing honey, the botulinum bacteria are heat-resistant and do not die, so the danger remains. This is why, as mentioned in the previous section, foods containing honey, such as bread, castella, and cakes, should not be given to infants. If honey is given to infants under the age of one whose intestinal environment is not yet in good condition, botulinum bacteria will multiply in the intestines and produce toxins. This is a disease called "infant botulism." Infant botulism can cause symptoms such as constipation, decreased ability to suck, loss of energy, changes in crying, and difficulty in holding the neck.

In most cases, the disease will be cured with appropriate treatment, but there have been cases in the past where people have died. In March 2017, a 6-month-old baby died of infant botulism after ingesting honey in Japan.

Some people may be worried about feeding honey to their children after reading the above information. However, once a child turns one year old, their intestinal environment becomes healthy and the intestinal bacteria can kill botulinum bacteria.

Additionally, the statement on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's website that "honey is not a high-risk food for people over the age of one" may be a source of reassurance.



参照元:厚生労働省https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000161263.pdf https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000161461.html

Important points to consider when giving honey to children over 1 year old for the first time

Even though the risk of developing infant botulism is extremely low for children over one year old, you may still be anxious about giving honey to your child for the first time. To help ease your anxiety, here are two points to keep in mind when giving honey to children over one year old for the first time.

Consuming honey in a delicious and appropriate manner will help maintain your child's health.

Tip 1: Start by giving a small amount

When feeding honey to your child for the first time, start with a very small amount. We recommend starting with about 1/2 teaspoon. Although it is said that honey is safe for children over 1 year old to eat, giving a lot at once can cause stomach aches, diarrhea, and other discomfort. For this reason, it is safer to put a small amount of honey on pancakes or yogurt, or to limit it to giving your child a small amount of bread with honey. After consuming honey, observe whether there are any changes in your child's physical condition, and if there are no changes, you can gradually increase the amount.

Point 2: Choose a time when you feel good

When giving honey to your child for the first time, it is important to choose a time when your child is in perfect health. When your child is not feeling well, their immune system is weakened, so giving honey to your child may cause food poisoning. To avoid this risk, choose a time when your child is in good health and energetic when giving honey to your child for the first time.

It is also important to find out in advance the hours when pediatric clinics and hospitals are open for consultations. If it is during opening hours, you can rest assured that if your child's condition changes after giving honey, you can rush to the clinic immediately.

What effects can children expect from eating honey?

Honey contains a well-balanced amount of nutrients that are helpful in maintaining a healthy body. Therefore, honey can be expected to have various effects on health and beauty, but what makes children happy is that it helps them stay healthy every day.

Honey is a monosaccharide that is quickly converted into energy, making it a great food for keeping you feeling energized.

In addition, the antibacterial properties of honey can help prevent physical ailments that often occur during seasonal changes.

These expected benefits of eating honey can help maintain children's health from the inside out.

Can I eat honey while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is safe to eat honey even if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

You may be worried that the bacteria in the honey you eat will have a negative effect on your baby, or that you are giving honey to your baby through your breast milk. However, the only people who should not ingest honey are infants under one year old, whose intestinal environment is still immature. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has not issued any warnings about honey intake for pregnant or breastfeeding women, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind. In fact, honey, which contains a balanced amount of various nutrients, is a recommended food for pregnancy and breastfeeding, when health is of utmost importance.

However, if you have a child under the age of 1, be sure to quickly put away any spoons or plates that still have honey on them. There is a risk that the infant may touch them and accidentally put it in their mouth. It is also important that people around you are careful when eating honey to avoid creating an environment that could lead to an infant accidentally ingesting it.

Besides honey, what other foods should I be careful of?

In addition to honey, there are other foods that should not be given to infants under one year of age. These include brown sugar, corn syrup, homemade vegetable soup, and well water, and these foods may also contain botulinum bacteria. As we have already mentioned, botulinum bacteria is a bacterium that exists in nature, such as in the sea, rivers, and soil, so it is not just honey that is contaminated by it. Pay close attention to everything your infant eats. In particular, brown sugar, like honey, is often used in sweets and bread. When purchasing these, be sure to check the ingredient label carefully.

Honey can only be consumed by people aged 1 year or older and should not be given to infants under 1 year of age.

This time, we explained the age at which children can eat honey and the points to keep in mind when feeding it to them for the first time.

Honey can be consumed by infants aged 1 year and over. The intestinal environment of infants under 1 year old is not yet prepared to tolerate the botulinum bacteria contained in honey. When giving honey to your child for the first time after they turn 1 year old, start with a small amount. It is also important to choose a time when your child is in good health.

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